ENTRY CONDITIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20734, 18 February 1939, Page 9

ENTRY CONDITIONS

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MINISTER ANNOUNCES CHANGES (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday Changes in the conditions of entry and service on short-service commissions and the general duties branch of ihe Royal Air Force were announced to-day by Hie Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. In future directentry candidates from New Zealand will be selected between the ages of 17 J and 28. The upper age limit has been raised from 25 to 28 years, but according to the new regulations a candidate must not have attained his 28th birthday. Before appointment to a short-ser-vice commission in the Royal Air Force a candidate may elect to serve six years on the active list, which is to be followed by four years in the reserve. Under the' old conditions candidates appointed to short-service commissions served four years on the active list, followed by six years in the reserve. This regulation will still apply to candidates who do not elect to serve six years on the active list. Officers who serve six years on the active list will be eligible for a gratuity of £SOO. The gratuity for officers who serve four years on the active list, still remains at £3OO. It is understood that the change in conditions is due to the Royal Air Force expansion programme. The number of short-service commissions available to New Zealanders will not be known until the Air Ministry makes its allocation. Last year 150 directentry candidates were received from the Dominion by the Royal Air Force. In addition to these 50 candidates were trained at the flying training school at Wigram for short-service commissions in the Royal Air Force.